The 1845 three act opera Tannhauser by Richard Wagner is based on two German legends: Tannhauser, the legendary medieval German poet, and the tale of the Wartburg Song Contest. The opera focuses on the struggle between sacred and profane love and redemption through love- themes that are commonly seen in Wagner’s mature works. This release features a production of Tannhauser conducted by the eminent Artur Rodzinski, and featuring vocalist Karl Liebl in the title role as well as fellow singers Eberhard Wachter, Gre Brouwestijn, Herta Wilfert, and others. This production took place in Rome at the Auditorium della RAI in November of 1957. Polish conductor Artur Rodzinski (1892-1958) was born in Dalmatia, but moved to Lwow, Poland where he began his musical studies. He enrolled later at the Academy of Music in Vienna, where he studied with Josef Marx and Franz Schreker (composition), Franz Schalk (conducting), and Emil von Sauer and Jerzy Lalewicz (piano). He is most remembered for his tenures as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic during the 1930s and 1940s.

Artists

Karl Liebl (Tannhäuser), Gré Brouwenstijn (Elisabeth), Eberhard Wächter (Wolfram von Eschenbach), Hertha Wilfert (Venus), Dezsö Ernster (Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen), Murray Dickie (Walther von der Vogelweide), Alois Pernerstorfer (Biterolf), Walter Brunelli (Heinrich der Schreiber), Peter Harrower (Reinmar von Zweter), Rosl Schwaiger (Hirt)

Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI di Roma, Coro de Roma della RAI, Artur Rodziński